Pro-Iranian hackers take over website of Israel backer Adelson's casino company

By JPOST.COM STAFF02/12/2014

The intruders momentarily took control of the web site belonging to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Computer hackers briefly took control of the website of the corporation owned by American Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson, according to Bloomberg.

The intruders posted statements on the Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s site critical of Adelson, a strong supporter of Israel, in response to his remarks last year in which he encouraged the United States to drop a nuclear bomb on Iran to deter it from proceeding with its nuclear program.

Sands told Bloomberg that it was working with law enforcement to identify the source of the attack.

Adelson has made no secret of his right-wing views, particularly on issues related to Israel. He owns the Israel Hayom newspaper, and is an ardent supporter of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and a fierce critic of US President Barack Obama. During the 2012 presidential campaign, Adelson contributed significant sums to Obama’s Republican opponent, Mitt Romney.

During a panel discussion at Yeshiva University in October, Adelson suggested that the US should use nuclear weapons on Iran to impose its demands from a position of strength.

Asked by moderator Rabbi Shmuley Boteach whether the US should negotiate with Tehran if it were to cease its uranium enrichment program, Adelson retorted, “What are we going to negotiate about?” He then imagined what might happen if an American official were to call up an Iranian official, say “Watch this,” and drop a nuclear bomb in the middle of the Iranian desert.

“Then you say, ‘See! The next one is in the middle of Tehran. So, we mean business. You want to be wiped out? Go ahead and take a tough position and continue with your nuclear development.

You want to be peaceful? Just reverse it all, and we will guarantee you that you can have a nuclear power plant for electricity purposes, energy purposes,’” Adelson said.